The heavy and prolonged period of discounting around Black Friday failed to boost overall retail spending in the UK in November as GlobalData’s total retail index fell by 6.9 points versus October, driven down by a decrease in instore spending. IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION: Please click here for enlarged chart The company’s latest report ‘UK Monthly Spend...

Online returns will increase by 27.3% over the next five years to £5.6bn, but this rapid growth represents a lower return rate as online spending will rise even faster, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Low consumer confidence and inflated food prices would see the UK non-food retail sector £2.3bn worse off in a hard Brexit scenario compared to a Brexit based on the Withdrawal Agreement, according to GlobalData’s Brexit and the Impact on Retail report. Karla Rendle, Senior Retail Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers...

With online retail spend set to rise 7.5% this year while offline spend inches up just 1.0%, UK consumers are set to spend more online this Christmas than ever before. Almost 80% of the UK population shopped online in the last 12 months, with online shopper penetration driven by younger consumers – over 95% of...

An increase in the number of retailers offering ‘try before you buy’ payment methods is driving up the use of credit options amongst young consumers buying online, with 26.3% of online clothing & footwear shoppers aged 16-34 using credit options such as ‘try before you buy’ in the past 12 months, according to GlobalData, a...

Instore spending drove a moderate 2.6 point increase in GlobalData’s total retail spend index as many consumers in the UK began their Christmas shopping, persuaded by retailers starting to promote gifts and partywear. However, online spending decreased as shoppers held back in anticipation of the Black Friday deals in November, according to GlobalData, a leading...

The US-originated Halloween occasion is becoming more popular in the UK with over half of consumers spending on Halloween in 2018, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Appetite for US imported retail occasions is stronger than ever, with GlobalData also forecasting a 3.1% increase in Black Friday spend this week. The company’s...

55.6% of UK consumers surveyed stated that they intend to purchase at least one advent calendar this year, up from 53.4% last year, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. While chocolate advent calendars remain the most popular type purchased, with 73.6% of advent calendar shoppers stating their intent to purchase this product, this...

Black Friday sales are forecast to grow faster than the UK retail market in Q4 2018, as the promotional period draws in spend from before and after the event. Zoe Mills, Retail Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view: “Spend during the Black Friday period will account for 10.5% of...

After over a year of speculation and a contest in which major cities have vied for Amazon's favor, the technology behemoth has finally chosen New York City and Northern Virginia as the locations for its new headquarters.

The announcement this morning on AO World’s acquisition of Mobile Phones Direct highlights the online electricals specialist’s continued expansion plans as it attempts to steal market share from Dixons Carphone, Zoe Mills, Retail Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view: ‘‘AO World has been focused on shrugging off consumer perceptions...

While it has been a year of retail failures, profit warnings and store closures so far, the ‘golden quarter’ offers retailers the opportunity to gain sales from consumers who are finally ready to prioritise shopping. But low consumer confidence and confusion over Brexit will inhibit big-ticket spend, and trading down to value retailers is becoming more widespread, due to the rapid store expansion of players such as B&M and Home Bargains.

Clothing and footwear spend via online-only retailers is set to soar 67.4% over the next five years reaching £7.5bn in 2023, outpacing growth in the sector online (forecast to be 40.3%) and accounting for over one third of online clothing and footwear sales by 2023, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. The company’s...

Goldman Sachs has dominated the latest mergers and acquisitions (M&A) league table of the top 10 financial advisers for the Retail industry for Q3 2018, compiled by leading data analytics company GlobalData. Goldman Sachs, an American bank, raced to the top in terms of deal value, with an impressive six deals worth a total $10.6bn....

This year Halloween will be a treat for retailers, with the event forecast to be worth £491m in 2018 (up 2.1% on last year) as consumers invest in the spooky occasion, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Halloween clothing and costumes remain the greatest opportunity for retailers to capitalise on this occasion, with...

The £900m extension to small business rate relief gives an estimated 500,000 independent shops a boost but does nothing for the long list of struggling retail chains who were hoping, for once, that they would have their tax burden reduced.

The prolonged heatwave in the UK and major sporting events boosted spending on summer items such as outdoor and gardening products, BBQ food and holiday clothing, with consumers judging Tesco to be the retailer that had promoted its summer ranges the best, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. The company’s latest report ‘Summer in...

GlobalData’s newly released ‘Top 50 UK Shopping Centres Report, 2018’ is the first of its kind to take into account the requirements of both tenants and shoppers, to provide a comprehensive view on the UK’s top shopping centres. Through a combination of consumer and B2B research, the new report provides a 360⁰ view on the UK’s leading shopping centres, underpinned by data from landlords, property experts and, most importantly, shoppers.

Following today’s news (Monday 15 October) that Claire’s is mulling UK store closures, Kate Ormrod, Lead Retail Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view: ‘‘Having continually lost relevance in the jewellery and accessories market, the news that Claire’s is seeking to rid itself of stores is no surprise – with...

Following today’s news (Monday 15 October) that Superdry has announced a profit warning, Sofie Willmott, Senior Retail Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view on the chain’s current challenges: ‘‘Following news in the last few weeks that Quiz, Coast and Ted Baker have all been hit by the downfall of...

Following the news that US retailer, Sears, files for bankruptcy: Neil Saunders, Managing Director of GlobalData Retail, comments: “Today is a day that will live in retail infamy. That a storied retailer, once at the pinnacle of the industry, should collapse in such a shabby state of disarray is both terrible and scandalous in equal...

Grocers should consider introducing more widespread deposit and return schemes instead of waiting for government action, since 88.9% of UK consumers stated that they would be likely to use a scheme as environmental concerns move higher up their agendas, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION: Please click here for chart:...

The grocers’ ability to use heavy discounting and promotions has cemented their position as the go-to destination for back to school products, according to GlobalData a leading data and analytics company.

Following today’s (Thursday 27 September) publication of the CMA’s phase 1 decision on the merger of ASDA and Sainsbury’s, Patrick O’Brien, UK Retail Research Director at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view: “While the CMA has signalled that there is the threat of substantial lessening of competition in 463 areas across...

Following today’s (Monday 10 September) release from Debenhams in relation to media speculation over its future, Patrick O’Brien, UK Retail Research Director at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view: ‘‘Debenhams statement reacting to media speculation over its future has singularly failed to address investor concerns. While trying to give reassurance with...

JP Morgan has topped the latest M&A league table of the top 10 financial advisers for the retail industry for Q2 2018, compiled by leading data analytics company GlobalData. The bank led the competition by deal value, with five deals worth a combined $21.5bn, including the industry’s highest value deal – Walmart’s proposed acquisition of...

Following this mornings (Thursday 30th August) release of WH Smith’s pre-close statement, Zoe Mills, Retail Analyst for GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her perspective on the company’s results: “WH Smith continues to lead the UK stationery market but its 10.5% share is being eroded by new, more inspirational specialists, as well as...

Wesfarmers’ disastrous acquisition of Homebase and the announced closure of nearly a fifth of its 250 stores have led to Homebase losing 2.9 percentage points of the DIY market, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. In the years before Wesfarmers’ acquisition, Homebase was streamlining its store estate and introducing more homewares lines to...

To give House of Fraser the best chance of survival, Sports Direct and its owner Mike Ashley must make drastic changes to both its product proposition and store environment to entice shoppers back says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. This will require significant investment – something which the chain has been starved of in recent years.

‘‘While there are positives to take from Restaurant Brands International’s Q2 earning release, they do little to allay the fears of investors who feel the firm is struggling to turn around the stagnating Tim Hortons brand. The company needs to be more innovative and introduce something which can really attract the attention of consumers or resign itself to playing second fiddle to rivals.

Following today’s (Thursday 2 August) increase in UK interest rates, Patrick O’Brien, UK Retail Research Director at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view: “While the Bank of England believes that the UK economy is in strong enough shape to withstand an interest rate increase, UK retailers will be scratching their heads,...

Following speculation that Tesco is to launch a new discount fascia in the UK to compete with Aldi and Lidl, Thomas Brereton, Retail Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the fascia’s potential: “The possibility of Tesco opening a discount fascia in a bid to neutralize the growing threat...

“While Sainsbury’s focuses on getting its pending merger with ASDA past the CMA for the end of 2019, day-to-day retail operations continue – and as the first quarter numbers show, performance is far from impressive. While all key metrics are at least positive, a 0.2% growth in retail like-for-like sales sits far behind the recent results of competitors Tesco (+2.1%) and Morrisons (+3.6%) over a comparable period.

A recent analysis of Easter UK consumer spending by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, has revealed a number of insights to help retailers increase sales during the Easter holiday period.

The data does point to a slightly better near term picture for retailers though, with inflation falling leading to an increase of 1.2% in real household disposable income in 2018.’
On the perennial problem of business rates though, the only help was the bringing forward of the next revaluation to 2021, which will be little help to struggling retailers about to be hit by increased rate bills next month.’’

The share of UK clothing shoppers that purchased accessories fell from * 50.6% in 2016 to 40.9% in 2017, equating to four million fewer consumers and £390m in lost revenue, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, Tesco remains number one in terms of promoting Valentine’s Day offers in 2017, with its wide range and convenient offer appealing to the masses.

According to GlobalData,a leading data and analytics company, over half of consumers forked out for a Valentine’s Day meal at a fine dining restaurant last year, up 5.0ppts on 2016. However the company believe that this trend is set to change in 2018 as consumers look to balance their budgets with more affordable dining options.

Although UK sales on Valentine’s gifts and cards are set to achieve the £1 billion mark this year, growth is expected to slow on 2017 as shopping at discounters for the occasion becomes more prevalent.

Click & collect continues to rise rapidly in the UK, outpacing growth in the online retail channel, with click & collect sales forecast to account for 13.9% of total online spend in 2022, 1.9 percentage points higher than in 2017, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The UK town centre retail market has been in decline since 2015, but it is forecast to rise 0.2% in 2018 and will continue to grow out to 2022, with sales in the town centre market being driven by convenience goods particularly in the food & grocery sector. However, the town centre retail market will underperform against the overall growth of total physical retail sales in the UK over the next five years, which will be driven by retail parks and supermalls, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The UK food and grocery convenience market will grow 4.1% in 2018, outperforming the total UK food and grocery market by 0.9 percentage points (ppt), according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

More UK shoppers prepared a meal at home during the last 12 months - rising from 78.3% in 2016 to 83.8% in 2017 - as interest in healthy eating continued to grow according to new research by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

While Toys R Us hopes that shutting 26 stores as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) can stop it falling into administration, the only way it can save itself is by rejuvenating the rest of its tired portfolio says GlobalData a leading data and analytics company.

Spend during the Black Friday period, defined as Monday 20-Monday 27 November 2017, is forecast to grow 3.8% on 2016 (Monday 21-Monday 28 November 2016) to £10.1bn, accounting for 10.4% of total Q4 spend. Although growth is forecast to slow year-on-year, we expect more retailers to take part in the event this year in an attempt to stimulate the waning demand they have faced over September and October.

Retailers are merchandising their Christmas ranges even earlier this year to meet consumer demand for early Christmas bargains on essentials like Christmas trees, decorations and lights according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Non-food retailers will continue to struggle this Christmas with sales expected to show year-on-year growth of only 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Volumes are forecast to fall by 0.1% as price rises, which came into play as result of the weakened pound, will discourage cash strapped consumers from shopping over the seasonal period.

Despite the prolonged doom and gloom on the UK high street, waning consumer confidence, and restricted budgets, the health & beauty sector has far from lost its appeal. Indeed UK consumers will be prepared to pay even more over the next five years, with annual spend per head forecast to rise by £73 to £487, and the market reaching £26.7bn by 2022 according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The UK Supermalls market is forecast to rise 7.2% over the next five years, outpacing growth in physical locations, forecast to be 5.0% (across non-food sectors), according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Department stores and traditional clothing & footwear retailers are losing market share to online pureplay retailers, and must look to follow their lead into delivery saver schemes according to GlobalData, a leading data and analystics company. This will encourage their customers to shop more frequently and keep the retailer at the forefront of consumers’ minds.

For retail banks looking to differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded marketplace, providing an enhanced digital customer experience is now an essential component of winning and retaining customers. The sector is increasingly looking to artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve this and is now on the cusp of a digital services revolution, with machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics all set to turn retail banking into a data-driven industry.

The shareholder-approved Amazon-Wholefoods deal gives the company a sizeable bricks-and-mortar presence in food retail with the ability to revolutionise online grocery shopping, and leading retailers are well aware that they are under threat.

Travel retail, particularly in airports, is currently a bright spot in the retail world. GlobalData’s latest report reveals that spending in airports hit $38 billion globally in 2016, and is set to grow by 27% to $49 billion by 2021.

Amazon's $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods gives Amazon a serious presence in the grocery market and a platform for future growth and expansion. For Whole Foods, Amazon is potentially the answer to some – but not all
– of its issues.

The UK retail parks market is expected to grow by 13.8% between 2017 and 2022, with the sector set to outperform the high street, according to GlobalData, a recognized leader in providing business information and analytics.